Omar Khan. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers make history with 2023 NFL Draft

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 5/2/23

The Steelers' new regime under general manager Omar Khan is certainly putting its stamp on the team as they did something in the 2023 NFL Draft the franchise hasn't done in almost four decades.

Pittsburgh didn't draft a wide receiver, running back or quarterback for the first time since 1985 when the draft was 12 rounds.

The Steelers ended up with four defensive and three offensive players in the draft. Almost incredibly, they didn’t draft a wide receiver, running back or quarterback – the first time that has happened since 1985 when the draft was 12 rounds.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) April 29, 2023

The Steelers drafted four defensive players (CB Joey Porter Jr., DT Keeanu Benton, LB Nick Herbig and CB Cory Trice Jr.) and three offensive players (OT Broderick Jones, TE Darnell Washington and OL Spencer Anderson).

Pittsburgh has had a clear focus on building up the trenches on both sides of the ball through free agency and the draft, and it makes sense given the number of young skill players it already has on offense.

Ages of Steelers offensive players:

Kenny Pickett: 24

Najee Harris: 25
Jaylen Warren: 24

Diontae Johnson: 26
George Pickens: 22
Alan Robinson: 29
Calvin Austin: 24

Pat Freiermuth: 24
Darnell Washington: 21
Connor Heyward: 24

OL: 25.4
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) May 2, 2023

Assistant general manager Andy Weidl has clearly had a major impact on the team as well. Weidl joined the Steelers staff after spending six seasons as the Eagles' vice president of player personnel.

If there's any team Pittsburgh should want to follow the blueprint of, it's Philadelphia, who went 14-3 and made an appearance in Super Bowl LVII.

If second-year QB Kenny Pickett can also take a leap in 2023, the Steelers will be competitive and maybe even make it back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season.

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